Local

Issaquah fish sculpture targeted by vandal

A much-loved salmon statue at the Issaquah Hatchery was vandalized. Someone used a saw and tried to cut off the tail of the bronze statue.

"It’s an iconic part of the hatchery. I think when people think of the hatchery they have these statues in mind here,“ said Darin Combs, Issaquah Salmon Hatchery manager.

The statue was installed in 1996 and it is the starting point for all tours at the Issaquah Hatchery. It's also where people place their donations each day.

Investigators don't know if the vandal was after the cash inside or after the bronze to sell as scrap metal.

“It’s just appalling to me someone would vandalize this in this way,” said volunteer Lawrence McCrone, who is a docent at the hatchery. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

The cut on the tail of the male fish, "Finley," has volunteers with Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery upset.

Teacher Jennet Liljenquist brought her third grade class from Briarwood Elementary on Friday, like she does every year.

“Our students, they allow them to come here free. They do ask for donations and one of the highlights is putting the money in there and really feeling like they’re contributing,” said Liljenquist.

The vandal came back two nights in a row and kept sawing, according to the hatchery.

The hatchery has added lights, cameras, and sign that says donations in the fish are emptied each night.

Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) is working to get the sculpture repaired. The artist has since passed away. The fish sculpture may need to be removed to be repaired.

Issaquah police are looking for any information that could help them find the vandal.